Repotting guide

When & how to repot Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata)

Also called Cat's-ear, Hairy Cat's-ear, False Dandelion, Flatweed.

More about cat's-ear

About Cat's-ear

Hypochaeris radicata · also called Cat's-ear, Hairy Cat's-ear · flowering

Hypochaeris radicata is a rosette-forming perennial native to grasslands, lawns, and disturbed ground across the UK and Europe, producing bright yellow dandelion-like flower heads on branched, scaly scapes from June to September. It closely resembles a dandelion but is distinguished by its branched stems and hairy, wavy-edged leaves. Extremely resilient and drought-tolerant, it thrives in poor, well-drained soils in full sun with minimal care. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to horses (causing stringhalt); its toxicity to cats and dogs is unconfirmed, so a mildly-toxic classification is applied.

Mature size: 15–40 cm tall in flower, rosette spreading 10–25 cm wide.

Watch for — Persistent taproot making removal difficult: The deep taproot regrows if broken — use a long-handled weeding tool to extract the full root; repeated removal over two or more seasons is usually needed to eliminate plants from lawns.

How to tell cat's-ear needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For cat's-ear, watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for cat's-ear) flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot cat's-ear

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. Cat's-ear is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Basal-rosette perennial with a deep taproot, sending up branched flowering scapes; leaves are hairy and sinuately lobed..

What size pot to step cat's-ear up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. Cat's-ear positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping cat's-ear into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot cat's-ear

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for cat's-ear. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting cat's-ear

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide cat's-ear out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip cat's-ear out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh poor to moderately fertile, well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soil, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water cat's-ear again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for cat's-ear

Cat's-ear wants poor to moderately fertile, well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Tolerates a wide pH range (mildly acid to mildly alkaline) and adapts to compacted lawn soils where other plants struggle. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting cat's-ear — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot cat's-ear?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for cat's-ear. Only repot cat's-ear every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using poor to moderately fertile, well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soil. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does cat's-ear need?

When is the best time of year to repot cat's-ear?

Does cat's-ear like to be root-bound?

Yes — cat's-ear genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise cat's-ear after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting cat's-ear. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.